The head of Delta Airlines is speaking out on his companies decision cut ties with the National Rifle Association, one day after Georgia's governor said he would sign a bill depriving Delta of a hefty tax break.

Atlanta-based Delta released an internal memo CEO Ed Bastian sent to employees after Georgia lawmakers killed a proposed tax break on jet fuel that would have saved the company millions of dollars. Republican leaders had vowed to punish Delta after it stopped offering fare discounts to NRA members.

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"Our people and our customers have a wide range of views on how to increase safety in our schools and public places, and we are not taking sides," Bastian's memo said. "Our objective in removing any implied affiliation with the NRA was to remove Delta from this debate."

Governor Nathan Deal, himself a Republican, said the legislation had been put at risk by political "antics." But he said he would sign it anyway because it cuts taxes.

"Disagreement on key issues of our time should not prevent Georgians from keeping more of their hard-earned dollars," he said at a press conference Wednesday.

Republicans in the state Senate stripped a tax exemption for jet fuel out of the bill after Delta ended a discount for NRA members flying to their annual meeting. The exemption would save Delta as much as $50 million.

Delta was one of roughly a dozen companies that cut ties with the NRA after 17 students and staff were shot to death at a high school in Florida.

The bill could go to the Senate floor as early as Thursday. It still has to go back to the House before it goes to the governor.

Deal said he would find "a pathway forward for the elimination of sales tax on jet fuel, which is non-negotiable."

Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, a Republican who is running for governor, said earlier in the week that companies can't "attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.".

Delta is one of the Georgia's largest employers. Democrats in other states took the opportunity to invite the airline to do business with them instead.

"Virginia is for lovers and airline hubs," Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said on Twitter. "You're welcome here any time."

"Delta is sending a clear signal that it opposes the NRA's dangerous agenda, which is putting our children and our families at risk," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "While Georgia politicians may disagree with the airline's principled stand, we herein the Empire State welcome Delta with open arms, and invite them to move their headquarters here."

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy is praising Delta CEO Ed Bastian for his "courage standing up to" the NRA. He's touting Connecticut as a good place to relocate Delta's headquarters, given the state's "commonsense gun laws."